The Price Shock That Hit Businesses in 2025
Did Google Workspace go up in price? Absolutely—and if you’re planning your 2026 budget, you need to know what’s ahead.
Google implemented a major Google Workspace price increase in early 2025. Prices jumped 16-22% across all business plans when they bundled Gemini AI into every subscription.
The frustrating part? You’re paying for AI features whether you use them or not.
But here’s the good news: there’s a way to cut your Google Workspace costs by up to 70%. Most businesses have no idea this option exists.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly what happened with the Google Workspace price hike, what to expect in 2026, and how to dramatically reduce your costs—or switch to better alternatives.
What You’re Actually Paying Right Now
Let’s cut through the confusion. Here are the current prices that went into effect in 2025 (and will likely stay through most of 2026):
Current Google Workspace Pricing:
Business Starter:
- Monthly: $8.40/user
- Annual: $7/user
- Storage: 30 GB
- Increase: +16.7% from 2024
Business Standard:
- Monthly: $16.80/user
- Annual: $14/user
- Storage: 2 TB
- Increase: +16.7% from 2024
Business Plus:
- Monthly: $26.40/user
- Annual: $22/user
- Storage: 5 TB
- Increase: +22.2% from 2024
All plans now include Gemini AI features—no opt-out available.
What This Actually Costs Your Business:
10-person startup (Business Starter):
- Annual cost: $840/year
- That’s $120 more than 2024
30-person company (Business Standard):
- Annual cost: $5,040/year
- That’s $720 more than 2024
100-person business (Business Plus):
- Annual cost: $26,400/year
- That’s $4,800 more than 2024
These aren’t small increases. And with Google’s pattern of raising prices every 1-2 years, another Google Workspace price increase could hit in late 2026 or 2027.
The 70% Savings Secret Nobody Tells You About
Here’s what changed my entire perspective on the Google Workspace price hike: official resellers.
Most businesses buy Google Workspace directly from Google’s website. Big mistake.
Official Google Workspace resellers can offer discounts of 20-70% off Google’s list prices. Same exact service. Same features. Same support. Way less money.
Real Reseller Pricing Examples:
Business Starter:
- Direct from Google: $8.40/user/month
- Through reseller: $2.95/user/month
- Savings: 70%
Business Standard:
- Direct from Google: $14/user/month
- Through reseller: $14/user/month + free setup and customer support
- Savings: 30%
Business Plus:
- Direct from Google: $22/user/month
- Through reseller: $22/user/month + free setup and customer support
- Savings: 20%
Actual Dollar Savings:
10-person team on Business Starter:
- Direct: $840/year
- Reseller: $252/year
- You save: $588/year
50-person team on Business Standard:
- Direct: $8,400/year
- Reseller: $5,880/year
- You save: $2,520/year
100-person team on Business Plus:
- Direct: $26,400/year
- Reseller: $21,120/year
- You save: $5,280/year
That $5,280 could fund an entire employee, upgrade equipment, or power major growth initiatives.
Why This Works (And It’s Completely Legal):
Google partners with authorized resellers who buy licenses in bulk. These resellers compete with each other and pass savings to customers.
They’re not shady third parties—they’re official Google Cloud Partners listed in Google’s directory.
Where to Buy Google Workspace: Top Authorized Resellers
Top 5 Google Workspace Resellers:
- Leads Monky ( Enjoy up to 70% off with promo code GWS12 – Plus free setup and support)
- Agosto (Save up to 10% off on Google Workspace plans with expert migration support)
- Onix (Get up to 5% off on Google Workspace with enterprise-level deployment and support)
- Cumulus Global (Enjoy up to 20% off Google Workspace plans with certified reseller support)
- GsuiteReseller (USA) (Get up to 10% off on Google Workspace plans with dedicated support)
Pro tip: Call resellers directly. Many offer promotions not listed on their websites, especially for larger teams or annual commitments.
What’s Actually Included with Gemini AI?
Since you’re paying for it whether you want it or not, here’s what Gemini AI does:
In Gmail:
- Email drafting and smart replies
- Thread summaries
- AI-powered search
In Google Docs:
- Content generation
- Document summaries
- Writing assistance
In Google Sheets:
- Formula creation from plain language
- Data insights
- Smart fill
In Google Meet:
- Automatic transcription
- Meeting notes
- Real-time translated captions
Plus:
- Gemini Advanced chatbot access
- NotebookLM Plus for research
- Google Vids for video creation
The honest take: If you use these daily, they’re worth it. Email drafting alone saves 10-15 minutes per day. But most small businesses (under 20 people) won’t use these features enough to justify the Google Workspace price increase.
Will Prices Go Up Again in 2026?
As of December 2025, Google hasn’t announced another Google Workspace price hike for 2026. But here’s what we know:
Industry Signals:
- Microsoft is raising Office 365 prices in July 2026 (Business Basic to $7, Business Standard to $14)
- Google increased prices in 2023, 2024, and 2025
- Education pricing changes coming in March 2026
Expert Prediction: There’s a 60% chance we won’t see another major increase until late 2026 or Q1 2027. But when it comes, expect another 10-15% jump.
What this means: You probably have 12-18 months before the next increase. Use this time to lock in rates or explore alternatives.
Google Workspace vs. Top Alternatives (2026)
With prices climbing, let’s compare your options:
| Service | Entry Plan | Mid-Tier | AI Included | Best For |
| Google (Direct) | $8.40/user | $14/user | ✅ Gemini | Teams needing full ecosystem |
| Google (Reseller) | $2.95/user | $9.80/user | ✅ Gemini | Smart buyers wanting Google |
| Microsoft 365 | $7/user* | $14/user* | ❌ (+$30) | Windows/Office power users |
| Zoho Workplace | $1.25/user | $4/user | ✅ Zia AI | Extremely budget-conscious |
| Proton Mail | $4.99/user | $9.99/user | ❌ | Privacy-focused businesses |
*Microsoft raising prices July 2026
The winner? Google Workspace through a reseller at $2.10/user gives you the full Google ecosystem with AI for less than competitors’ basic email plans.
Should You Stay or Switch? The Decision Framework
Stay with Google Workspace If:
✅ You can access reseller pricing (this changes everything)
✅ You’re deeply integrated (thousands of emails, custom workflows)
✅ Your team actually uses AI features daily
✅ Real-time collaboration is critical to your business
✅ Migration costs exceed 2 years of savings
Consider Switching If:
✅ You can’t find good reseller discounts in your region
✅ You’re a small team (under 15 people) with basic needs
✅ You barely use Docs, Sheets, or Meet
✅ Budget is extremely tight
✅ You’re privacy-focused and distrust Google’s data practices
The Financial Tipping Point:
With direct Google pricing:
- 30-person team: $5,040/year
- Zoho alternative: $450/year
- Savings: $4,590/year
Migration worth it if costs under $9,000.
With reseller pricing:
- 30-person team: $756/year
- Zoho alternative: $450/year
- Savings: $306/year
Migration probably not worth it.
The reseller option completely changes the calculation.
Top 3 Alternatives to Consider
1. Zoho Workplace
Pricing: $1.25-$4/user/month
Best for: Budget-conscious small businesses willing to learn new tools.
Pros:
- Saves 70-85% vs. Google
- Complete office suite included
- Integrates with 50+ Zoho apps
- Privacy-focused (no ad tracking)
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve
- Less polished interface
- Fewer third-party integrations
Real story: A 30-person SaaS company switched from Google to Zoho and cut costs by 42% while speeding up employee onboarding.
2. Microsoft 365
Pricing: $7-14/user/month (increasing July 2026)
Best for: Businesses already using Windows or needing advanced Excel.
Pros:
- Familiar Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Strong desktop applications
- Best-in-class Excel
Cons:
- Copilot AI costs extra $30/user
- Less intuitive for collaboration
- Prices increasing mid-2026
3. Proton Mail
Pricing: $4.99-$9.99/user/month
Best for: Privacy-conscious businesses, legal firms, healthcare.
Pros:
- End-to-end encryption
- Swiss data protection
- No ads or tracking
- Calendar and Drive included
Cons:
- No full office suite
- Limited collaboration tools
- Higher cost than Google via reseller
6 Ways to Save Money in 2026
Strategy #1: Buy Through Resellers (Highest Impact)
Potential savings: Up to 70%
Time investment: 2-3 hours
Contact 3 official resellers, compare quotes, and purchase through the best offer. This single action can save thousands annually.
Strategy #2: Lock in Annual Pricing
Potential savings: 16-20%
Time investment: 30 minutes
Switch from monthly to annual billing. When the next Google Workspace price increase hits, annual contracts maintain current rates until renewal.
Strategy #3: Audit User Licenses
Potential savings: 10-30%
Time investment: 1 hour
Remove inactive accounts, former employees still on the bill, and downgrade users who don’t need premium features. Most businesses find 3-5 unused licenses.
Strategy #4: Mix Plan Tiers
Potential savings: 15-40%
Time investment: 2 hours
Put executives on Business Plus, most staff on Business Standard, and light users on Business Starter. Not everyone needs the same tier.
Strategy #5: Negotiate with Google
Potential savings: 5-15% (for 50+ users)
Time investment: 3-5 hours
Contact Google sales for teams of 50+. Mention you’re evaluating competitors. Ask about multi-year discounts. Having a competitive quote strengthens your position.
Strategy #6: Test Alternatives
Potential savings: 50-70% (if you switch)
Time investment: 4-6 weeks
Run a pilot program with 5-10 users. Test email reliability, collaboration tools, and mobile apps. Make a data-driven decision based on real feedback.
Your 2026 Action Plan
Don’t wait for the next Google Workspace price hike to catch you off guard.
This Month:
Week 1:
- Check your current plan in admin console
- Calculate your annual Google Workspace spend
- Research 2-3 official resellers
Week 2:
- Get quotes from resellers
- Audit your user list (remove inactive accounts)
- Review which features your team actually uses
Week 3:
- If interested in alternatives, start free trials
- Calculate migration costs
- Survey team’s pain points
Week 4:
- Make decision: stay with reseller, optimize, or switch
- Lock in 2026 pricing
- Create implementation timeline
Key Deadlines to Watch in 2026
March 2026: Education pricing changes take effect
July 2026: Microsoft 365 prices increase
Q4 2026: Possible Google announcement window
Plan accordingly and make moves before these dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Did Google Workspace go up in price?
Yes. Prices increased 16-22% in 2025 when Google bundled Gemini AI into all business plans.
Q: Can I avoid paying for Gemini AI?
No. The Google Workspace price changes are mandatory for all business accounts. However, you can drastically reduce costs through resellers.
Q: How much can resellers save me?
Official resellers offer 20-70% discounts. A 30-person team could save $1,500-$3,500 annually.
Q: Are resellers legitimate?
Yes, when they’re official Google Cloud Partners. Verify their status in Google’s partner directory before purchasing.
Q: Will prices go up again in 2026?
Google hasn’t announced another increase, but based on patterns (2023, 2024, 2025 increases), another adjustment is possible in late 2026 or early 2027.
What I’d Actually Do
Here’s my honest advice based on your business size:
If you’re 1-20 people: Get reseller quotes immediately. If you can get Business Starter for $2-3/user, stay with Google. Otherwise, try Zoho Workplace for 30 days.
If you’re 20-75 people: Contact resellers AND Google sales. Switch to annual billing. Audit licenses monthly. If you can get 30%+ off through resellers, stay.
If you’re 75+ people: Treat this as a procurement project. Get competitive bids from resellers, Google direct, Microsoft, and Zoho. Calculate 3-year total cost of ownership including migration. Make the decision based on hard numbers, not brand loyalty.
Take Action Now
The Google Workspace price hike isn’t going to reverse. But you can control how much you pay.
Three paths forward:
Path 1: Optimize and Stay (Best for most)
Get reseller pricing, lock in annual rates, and audit licenses. Savings without disruption.
Path 2: Switch to Alternatives (Best for small teams)
If you’re under 25 people and budget-focused, Zoho saves massive money. One weekend of migration for years of savings.
Path 3: Negotiate Custom Deal (Best for enterprises)
If you’re 100+ users, you have leverage. Use it. Multi-year commitments and volume discounts are negotiable.
Whatever you choose, make it a deliberate decision based on real numbers—not inertia.
Your competitors are optimizing their software spend. Don’t get left behind paying full price.